In the summer of 2020 we began taking a deep dive into the area of Spiritual Formation practices. There is so much information available that it can be hard to find specific principles we’ve discussed so far, much less remember all the details. Hopefully the following will help.

Below are lists of spiritual formation practices, as curated by various authors. No list is completely comprehensive, and there is a lot of overlap. Items from the lists below will link to separate pages with details about each practice, but until then we hope the lists alone will be helpful as reminders of the myriad of options open to us as we spend time with God.

These are meant to help us, not to serve as formulas or requirements. Just as Jesus told the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-27), the concept behind these practices is to help us to worship, as a means to an end which is intimacy with God. If a particular practice does not work for you, causes frustration, or otherwise impedes your time with God, there is no need to dwell on that particular practice. At some point later you might wish to stretch yourself into the the ones that are more difficult for you, but that comes after you find the ones that are the most useful in your walk with God.

NOTE: This is a project that will remain under construction for a while, but new content should be available weekly. Various lists and collections will be offered, from a variety of sources. Last update: 09-26-2020

Source #1: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s List from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook:

Notice Calhoun’s intentional use of the acronym “WORSHIP” to form the first letter of each heading.

Worship

Celebration
Gratitude
Holy Communion
Rule of Life|Rule for Life
Sabbath
Visio Divina
Worship

Open Myself to God

Contemplation
Awareness Review – Examen – Examination of Conscience
Iconography
Journaling
Pilgrimage
Practicing the Presence
Rest
Retreat
Self-Care
Simplicity
Slowing
Teachability
Unplugging

Relinquish the False Self

Confession and Self-Examination
Detachment
Discernment
Mindfulness and Attentiveness
Secrecy
Silence
Sobriety
Solitude
Spiritual Direction
Submission
Waiting

Share My Life with Others

Accountability Partner
Chastity
Community
Covenant Group
Discipling
Face-to-Face Connection
Hospitality
Mentoring
Service
Small Group
Spiritual Friendship
Unity
Witness

Hear God’s Word

Bible Study
Lectio Divina and Devotional Reading
Meditation
Memorization

Incarnate the Word of Christ

Blessing Others/Encouragement
Care of the Earth
Compassion
Control of the Tongue
Forgiveness
Humility
Justice
Solidarity in Jesus’ Sufferings
Stewardship
Truth Telling

Pray

Breath Prayer
Centering Prayer
Contemplative Prayer
Conversational Prayer
Fasting
Fixed-Hour Prayer
Inner-Healing Prayer
Intercessory Prayer
Labyrinth Prayer
Listening Prayer
Liturgical Prayer
Prayer of Lament
Prayer Partners
Praying Scripture
Prayer of Recollection
Prayer Walking
Welcoming Prayer

Source #2: Richard Foster’s List from Celebration of Discipline:

The Inward Disciplines

Meditation
Prayer
Fasting
Bible Study

The Outward Disciplines

Simplicity
Solitude
Submission
Service

The Corporate Disciplines

Confession
Worship
Guidance
Celebration

Source #3: Adapted from Robert Mulholland’s Invitation to a Journey

Prayer: Relationship building

Individual oriented
In community

Spiritual Reading: Lectio Divina

Silence (Silencio) (Solitude)
Reading (Lectio)
Meditation (Meditato)
Response (Oratio)
Contemplation (contemplatio)

Spiritual Guidance

Incarnation (Incarnatio)
Service
Simplicity
Submission

Liturgy: Work of the People

Worship (Individual; Corporate)
Daily Devotions (Daily Office; Discipleship; Confession)
Study (Informational Reading)
Fasting
Retreat (Solitude)
Celebration

Source #4: Odyssey in Christ

Safe Place Prayer
Prayer of Blessing (see also Blessing Others/Encouragement)